Santa Clarita, California

Most residents in California favor an active lifestyle, and locals in Santa Clarita are no exception. Yes, the weather can get uncomfortably warm in the summer months, but there is no shortage of biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities to enjoy. If you’re a hiking enthusiast, locals say Towsley Canyon Loop, Placerita Canyon, and Whitney Canyon are a must. If biking is your thing, you can bike for miles in Santa Clarita without encountering a single car. There are also bike clubs if you’re looking for an active social scene!

Here's a local with recommendations for activities in Santa Clarita:
Hiking at placerita canyon, castaic lake, hiking all around the city actually, bike rides The nature is the finest part of SCV. There isn’t much commercially to do. There is MB2 and there’s a shooting range as well. The Valencia Town Center has pretty good date night spots. Downtown Newhall has events every Thursday. Follow @whatsupscv on Instagram for good events & updates as well!! Congrats on your move!!

For more reviews of what living in Santa Clarita is like from locals check out: The Buzz

Although Santa Clarita is a suburban haven away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, if you choose to commute, you’re going to have a bad time. Over 75% of people in the area are car-dependent, which can clog the streets during the morning and evening commute. Commuting times of 90-120 minutes are not uncommon and keep your fingers crossed there are no major accidents, because that means traffic will reach an infuriating standstill.

A local discusses the horror of a commute from Santa Clarita:
It takes me an hour on a good day to get to Santa Monica from Burbank (pre-pandemic). You'd be looking at easily upwards of ninety minutes to two hours from Santa Clarita.

Santa Clarita has a definite suburban feel. If you see a bird’s eye view of the city, you’ll see rows and rows of neatly stacked homes surrounded by mountains. Made up of mostly homeowners, you’ll find a lot of young professionals and families here, either working from home or commuting into LA every day. On the weekends, locals will be planning trips to Santa Monica or Ventura for some beach time or out in the many parks with family enjoying the nice weather.

Check out the Santa Clarita calendar of events to see what happens here: https://calendar.santa-clarita.com/